Competitions and Other Updates

DanceArt - Senior Variation Award Presentation

It has been a while since our last post, I've had some problems with my internet connection and have been losing a lot of stuff, so I am hoping all goes well now.

Since our last post Salem competed at the DanceArt Society Inc's 11th Annual Dance Festival on the 3rd - 5th May at the Little Theatre in Lower Hutt.
His 13th birthday was on the first day of the comps so he danced in the Senior Variation Championship.  He really enjoyed being able to do two variations instead of just the one.
He didn't get a placing but danced very well.
He also got Highly Commended for his other dances.

Practicing "Du Hast"

Next up was The Associated Ballet and Theatre Club Inc - Tap, Modern, Restricted Ballet Competitions which were held on the 17th - 19th May.
He only danced four dances and did very well.

Last minute practice of "Sh-Boom"

He received Very Highly Commended's and First Place for Bond on Bond in the Neo Classical 12 years and over class.
Salem was very excited as this was his first trophy that he had won.  The last person who had won the trophy hadn't returned it yet, so we are still waiting to receive it.

Looking dapper for "Bond on Bond"

Then there was the Wellington Region Dance Teachers Competition Society Inc - Queen's Birthday Festival on the 1st - 3rd June.
He danced eight dances, was going to be nine but we couldn't make it in time on the Sunday morning due to lack of public transport.  But I think eight was enough.

Ready for his Polish debut

He had done enough practice on his Polish character dance to feel ready to give it a go, so luckily we were able to make a last minute entry because someone else had pulled out of that class.
So I quickly got a costume together for him making use of some of his older brothers Polish costume from years ago.  I had to do a lot of alterations as Salem is a lot slimmer but I think he looked great for his Polish debut.

Having a "Proud Mary" moment.

Salem was given lots of nice comments about his Polish dance such as:
"Lovely light holoubets.  Great Hinge.  Very enjoyable!"
He was given a Commended which he was very happy with.

Article in the Kapiti News. A few facts slightly wrong but never mind. 

Salem was very fortunate to be awarded another Variety - The Children's Charity Gold Heart Scholarship this year.  We are so grateful for the help with Salem's dance expenses.
A big "THANK YOU" to Variety!!!!!

Salem has been having lots of fun with his lessons with Jonty and we are all very pleased with the progress Salem is making.  He has been pracicing doing classical and barefoot impromptu dances with Jonty watching to see if what he is doing is passable and Jonty has been quite impressed.
Salem's first impromptus at comps are coming up soon!!!!!!

Salem is also working on two more variations:
James' solo - La Sylphide Act II and
Sigfried's solo - Swan Lake Act III.

As James from La Sylphide

He has only just learnt Sigfried's solo on the weekend at the Boy's Ballet Class with the Royal New Zealand Ballet Education Program with Shannon Dawson.
Shannon is a great teacher and Salem really enjoyed the class.
So Salem is putting a few of his own little touches along with Jonty's help to the Sigfried variation.

We are still going up to the studio at the gym all the time for plenty of practice as it is competition time again.

Competitions coming up are:

Hutt Valley Performing Arts Competition Society - Ballet and Tap/Modern Dance Comps 12th - 16th July

The Dance Kapiti Competition Festival is on the 20th - 23rd July, held at Southwards Theatre, here in Paraparaumu.

Variety Fight Night Fundraiser

Tanya Pease

Variety's Gold Heart Scholarship program awards up to 20 scholarships annually to children who are excelling in sport, the arts or education but who may be facing challenges or obstacles which restrict them. 
Salem is a recipient of a Gold Heart Scholarship and it has really been a huge help in Salem doing so well this year.

Variety provides up to $5,000 a year and a mentor to support our scholars,
and with Ringside NZ, they have been to be able to offer our
 scholars this additional opportunity to pair up with a contender who is embarking on their own challenging journey, so that they can inspire, support and raise money to create brighter futures for Kiwi kids.
The Contenders who take part in Fight Night require commitment, hard work, determination and physical and mental stamina to reach their goals – just like the Gold Heart Scholars.

Salem is thrilled that he has been teamed up with Tanya Pease.
Tanya works at Les Mills and looks after the Group Fitness Department.  
She often finds herself taking on new challenges. 
Tanya had open heart surgery as a teenager so never takes her fitness for granted. 
Getting in the ring is her latest challenge.... "it's been a tough journey but I'm enjoying it and am looking forward to the Fight Night :) Next year it'll be the marathon!"

She has a great passion for children, so finding out that Variety was the charity Ringside supported made her challenge all the more serious!

Check out her fundraising page at
http://www.everydayhero.co.nz/tanya_madfox_pease

Feel free to make a donation, every little bit helps.
All funds raised will be going towards Variety's Gold Heart Scholarship program to fund future GH scholars.

"He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life"                                - Muhammad Ali 

In the Kapiti Observer Today

Success for Salem

TALIA CARLISLE

  Splitting image: Paraparaumu's Salem Foxx, 12, has not let  Asperger's
Syndrome get in the way of his love for dancing.

Paraparaumu 12-year-old Salem Foxx has won a $5000 scholarship as he prepares to perform with the Royal New Zealand Ballet.

The youngster was asked to play a minor role in Cinderella, opening at Wellington's St James Theatre on August 3.

Salem performed with the RNZB in its production of Sleeping Beauty last year, and in The Nutcracker in 2010.

Dancing since he was a toddler, he started by copying his older brother Daemon, who was taking jazz and ballet lessons at the time.

His mother, Michelle Foxx, said it was hard to stop him from interrupting Daemon's classes.

"I had to [have] him strapped down in his pushchair because he just wanted to get up there and join in," she said.

Salem hopes to become a member of the RNZB and travel the world like his "pal" Sir Jon Trimmer, who he got to know while working in Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker.

Variety supported 21 New Zealand children with $5000 scholarships this year, including artists, dancers and sports stars who are physically or financially challenged.

Salem has Asperger's syndrome, although he regularly achieves merit or distinction in his ballet exams.

He is also a science star and has completed National Certificate of Educational Achievement level one papers while being home-schooled by his mother. Salem enjoys reading and comic books, but his main passion is ballet.

"I just love to be on stage. I like the steps and I guess it just feels good."

- Kapiti Observer

Today's Practice and A Gold Heart Scholarship

Walking up to the gym

It was another good practice today up at the gym.  Salem is getting a bit tire though, still not 100% over his cold, so I think it will be a day off tomorrow.  He still has a rehearsal for his group contemporary dance tomorrow at his dance school, Kapiti Dance Centre, but that is in the afternoon and only for about half an hour.

We have been walking up to the gym and back while the weather has been nice, but cold, it's been a good way to warm up before practice and to blow the cobwebs out of our heads.  Today because he was tired, we caught the bus home.

Salem has been very lucky to have been chosen to receive a Gold Heart Scholarship from Variety - The Children's Charity.  This is going to be a big help and has meant that we could afford some private dance lessons so that Salem can do competitions now which he has wanted to do for a while.  It will be interesting to see who they are going to get to mentor Salem.  Can't wait.

Thursday, 7 June 2012

Variety - The Children's Charity is helping 21 talented Kiwi kids to reach their full potential and overcome their personal challenges with a 2012 Variety Gold Heart Scholarship.

Gold Heart Scholarships form part of Variety's Future Kiwi Kids programme. For up to three years, Gold Heart scholarships support children who are physically or financially challenged to fulfill their dreams. This could include assisting with tuition fees, personal development, coaching, and the purchase of training equipment, travel or accommodation. Young people who already excel in the arts, sports or education are awarded financial support of up to $5,000 and matched with a mentor to help them achieve their life goals.

Recipients for 2012 include talented dancers, athletes and musicians, aged 8-17.

www.variety.org.nz